United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 8000.1

1

Surveillance and Testing Requirements for Interstate Transport of Wild Caught Cervids

1. Purpose and Background

To establish new or augment existing free-ranging herds, States or Tribes may transport

wild-caught cervids (elk, deer, moose, or other Cervidae) from one State or Tribal location to 

another for release. This document establishes a recommended minimum standard for 

testing and a uniform process of disease risk assessment to help prevent the spread of 

cervid diseases such as chronic wasting disease (CWD), bovine tuberculosis (TB), and 

brucellosis when wild cervids are captured for interstate movement and release.

States or Tribes planning to move wild-caught cervids interstate should refer to the guidance 

below to submit the proper documentation and requests to APHIS for approval. Cervid 

movements between, from, or to all American Zoological and Aquarium Association (AZA) 

accredited facilities and certified related facilities will follow all State and Federal movement 

requirements as stated in their current written policies.

This guidance document represents the Agency’s position on this topic. It does not create or 

confer any rights for or on any person and does not bind the U.S. Department of Agriculture 

(USDA) or the public. The information it contains may be made available to the public. While 

this document provides guidance for users outside VS, VS employees may not deviate from 

the directions provided herein without appropriate justification and supervisory concurrence.

2. Document Status

A. Valid through August 12, 2019.

B. This is a new document.

3. Reason for Reissuance

Not applicable.

4. Authority and References

A. Authorities (Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and U.S. Code (U.S.C.)):

• 7 U.S.C. 8301-8317

• 7 CFR 2.22 

• 7 CFR 2.80

• 7 CFR 371.4

• 9 CFR 77.32

• 9 CFR 77.38
 United States Department of Agriculture

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 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 8000.1

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• 9 CFR 81.2

• 9 CFR 81.3

• 9 CFR 76.2

• 9 CFR 76.4

• 9 CFR 76.6-10

• 9 CFR 76.16

• 9 CFR 76.17

VS Guidance Document 6701.2, “Tests for TB in Farmed and Captive Cervids” (3/27/2014)

5. Audience

VS employees, other Federal and State agencies, and members of the public.

6. Guidance

States moving wild cervids interstate for release must document that the source population 

within a 50-mile radius and the specific animals to be moved are low risk for infection with 

bovine TB, brucellosis, and CWD based on a combination of individual animal testing and

surveillance in the source population. Documentation of disease risk status could be 

provided through:

• Hunter harvest surveillance.

• Roadkill surveillance.

• Captive cervid surveillance.

• Other domestic livestock surveillance for TB and brucellosis.

The regulations at title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) part 77 describe the TB 

testing requirements for interstate movement of cervids. However, it is often impractical to 

meet the requirement for a whole herd test in wild populations of cervids. In this situation, a 

State or Tribe may ask APHIS to waive the whole herd test requirement with the 

concurrence of animal health officials in the receiving State. APHIS generally requires TB 

testing of the individual animals to be moved as a condition of the waiver. APHIS is 

preparing Federal brucellosis testing requirements for interstate movement of cervids.

Currently, an importing State or Tribe may specify brucellosis testing requirements.

Attachment 1 describes APHIS’ recommended minimum testing protocol for TB and 

brucellosis in wild-caught cervids moved interstate for release. States receiving these 

cervids may impose additional testing requirements.

Additionally, 9 CFR 81.3 requires that States moving wild cervids interstate for release,

document that the source population is at low risk for CWD through wildlife surveillance. The 

movement is subject to approval by the animal health officials of the receiving State or Tribe 

and APHIS.
 United States Department of Agriculture

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 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 8000.1

3

A. Approvals

1) States or Tribes interested in capturing wild cervids and moving them interstate for 

release will submit the documentation described below for review and approval to the

following:

a. APHIS Veterinary Services District Office in the origin and receiving States; 

b. State or Tribal animal health officials in the origin and receiving State(s).

2) The shipping and receiving State or Tribal authorities and VS assistant director in the 

corresponding District Offices of both States will review the submitted documents for 

completeness. They will discuss problems with supporting documentation (i.e., 

documents are missing, inadequate, or unclear) with the appropriate contact in the 

State or Tribe of origin. Once the State or Tribe of origin has provided all required 

documentation, the receiving State(s) or Tribe(s) and APHIS will complete their 

review.

3) The VS assistant director in the receiving State will forward the documentation with 

his or her recommendation for approval to the Cervid Health Program. 

4) The Cervid Health Program will review the documentation. The director overseeing 

the Cervid Health Program will notify the State or Tribe of origin and the receiving 

State(s) or Tribe(s) if APHIS approves interstate movement and release of wildcaught cervids.

5) Approval will not be granted for interstate movement and release of wild-caught 

cervids from States or zones having a recognized wildlife reservoir of bovine TB, 

brucellosis, or CWD as determined by the APHIS Administrator.

6) The State or Tribe of origin, the receiving State(s) or Tribe(s), and APHIS will each 

sign the Agreement for Interstate Transportation of Wild Cervids (Attachment 2) to 

complete the approval process.

B. Required Documentation

States moving wild cervids interstate for release will submit a summary statement and 

supporting documentation that demonstrates that the source population and the specific 

animals to be moved are low risk for infection with bovine TB, brucellosis, and CWD.

This documentation can be based on individual animal testing, surveillance in the source 

population, or both. APHIS requests the following documentation from the State or Tribe 

of origin to fully evaluate the potential risk of these diseases in the source population:
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 VS Guidance 8000.1

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1) The State or Tribe of origin is to provide a summary statement with a narrative 

description of the translocation project including cervid type, number of animals, 

capture sites, disease mitigation factors, active and passive surveillance activities, 

and animal health testing protocols before and after movement, disposition of injured 

animals, and State or Tribe of destination. Additional supporting documentation 

should include:

a. Maps showing a 50-mile radius of the areas such as counties or game 

management units where wild cervids will be sourced for capture. Include the 

involvement of any adjacent State or Tribal area.

b. Descriptions of the population density of wild cervids within those locations and 

methods used to estimate and define the population, with emphasis on the cervid 

species to be translocated.

c. Descriptions of previous or historic wild cervid translocations into or out of this 

geographic region (origin of the cervids, their species, when the movement 

occurred, destination).

2) The State or Tribe of origin’s summary statement should also describe the area’s 

disease history and epidemiology for CWD, including:

a. CWD surveillance of wild cervids within the 50-mile radius geographic region 

conducted per year for at least the last 5 years (preferably for the last 10 years). 

Include both passive (hunter harvest and found dead) and targeted surveillance 

for CWD, if applicable.

1. The summary statement should describe how the origin population was 

determined to be low risk for CWD. For example, hunter harvested samples

may have been collected within the defined radius/population to detect 

infection at a specified, low level of prevalence with a specified, high level of 

confidence (i.e., 1 percent prevalence with 95 percent confidence). Sampling 

strategies that target high-risk animals or other commonly accepted wildlife 

surveillance strategies that would detect CWD infection at low levels could

also be used.

2. Optionally, a whole-herd rectal biopsy or other mutually agreed-on method of 

antemortem CWD test with concurrent genotyping may be performed on the 

assembled herd. Laboratory results must be “not detected” on all animals. 

Animals with untestable or incorrect location samples (i.e., samples that are 

autolyzed or of the wrong tissue type) may be retested.
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 VS Guidance 8000.1

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b. Captive/farmed herd participation and compliance in an approved State CWD 

Herd Certification Program (HCP) or CWD monitoring program (number of herds, 

number of animals) including documented escapes within the 50-mile radius.

c. Captive/farmed herds with less than 5 years CWD HCP status (number of herds, 

number of animals).

d. Captive/farmed herds not enrolled in the CWD HCP program within the 50-mile 

radius.

e. Any CWD-positive results or traced animals in farmed/captive or wild cervids in 

the State over the last 10 years, with emphasis on the 50-mile radius geographic 

region of the source population for translocation.

3) The State or Tribe of origin’s summary statement should further describe the disease 

history and epidemiology for TB and brucellosis in all species, including:

a. TB and brucellosis surveillance of wild cervids in the geographic region 

conducted per year, for the last 5 years. Include both passive and targeted 

surveillance, if applicable.

b. Compliant participation in a captive/farmed cervid TB accredited herd program 

(number of herds, number of animals) within the 50-mile radius.

c. The number of captive/farmed cervid herds in the radius area that are TB 

accredited and the number that are not accredited.

d. Any TB or brucellosis positive results or traced animals in farmed/captive or wild 

cervids in the State or Tribe over the last 5 years with an emphasis on the 50-

mile radius geographic region of the source population for translocation.

e. Compliant participation in the captive/farmed Cervid Brucellosis Certification 

Program (number of herds, number of animals).

f. Number of captive/farmed cervid herds in the area that are certified brucellosisfree cervid herds and the number that are not accredited.

g. Number of captive/farmed cervid herds in the area that are brucellosis-monitored 

cervid herds.
 United States Department of Agriculture

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 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 8000.1

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4) Antemortem testing for TB and brucellosis will be completed and reported with approved 

tests and will meet or exceed the attached recommended minimum testing protocol

(Attachment 1). Additional testing may also be performed. The testing schedule must be 

included in the application documents. A protocol for dealing with an animal testing 

positive to any disease test must also be included.

7. Inquiries

Please direct any inquiries to:

VS Cervid Health Staff Officer

USDA APHIS Veterinary Services

National Center for Animal Health Programs

2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg. B

Fort Collins, CO 80526
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 8000.1

7

Attachment 1

A Recommended Minimum Testing Protocol for Tuberculosis and Brucellosis in Wild 

Caught Cervids for Interstate Translocation

Testing is to begin on the group to be translocated 30 days after the last wild trapped animal is 

added. After the last trapped animal is added, the assembled group of cervids is considered 

quarantined and no other animals may be added. The group must be contained within an 

enclosure surrounded by a double 8-foot fence, with the two fences separated by at least a 

meter. All animals must be affixed with a USDA-approved unique identification device and a 

second ID to comply with CWD rules. Any animals that die at any time during capture, 

quarantine, or transport must be subjected to a full necropsy to rule out pathology that could 

indicate TB or brucellosis. Additionally, they must be tested for CWD at an approved NAHLN 

CWD testing lab or the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL). Receiving State(s) or 

Tribe(s) may also require additional testing or quarantine requirements at their discretion. 

Testing:

Brucellosis (Serology):

• Screening Test: rapid automated presumption (RAP) or buffered acidified plate antigen 

(BAPA) – If positive, then complete:

o Secondary Test: Fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) – If FPA is positive, then 

complete:

o Confirmatory Test: Complement fixation (CF) – If the CF is positive and the animal is a

reactor, perform necropsy and culture.

• If CF is positive the entire group may be disqualified for translocation.

Tuberculosis:

Serologic and skin testing will be conducted in parallel with a positive of any one method,

taking precedence over negative results by other methods.

Skin testing:

Single Cervical Test – If there is a response, one of the following will be done:

Necropsy according to NVSL’s cervid TB necropsy protocol. Submit appropriate tissues 

to NVSL for histopathology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and culture. If results are 

positive for M. bovis, the entire group is disqualified for translocation and must be 

euthanized.
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 VS Guidance 8000.1

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Comparative Cervical Test – If the test shows the animal is a suspect or reactor then

euthanize the animal and perform a necropsy according to Cervid TB necropsy protocol. 

Submit appropriate tissues to NVSL for histopathology, PCR, and culture. If the test is 

positive for M. bovis, the entire group is disqualified for translocation and must be 

euthanized.

Serology:

Serum should be submitted to NVSL for a dual path platform (DPP) test. If the test is 

positive the animal may be euthanized and necropsied at that time or it may be held and 

retested with the DPP no sooner than 30 days after the initial test. If the DPP test is 

positive the second time, the animal must be euthanized and necropsied according to 

cervid TB necropsy protocol and appropriate tissues submitted to NVSL for 

histopathology, PCR, and culture. If the necropsy results are positive for M. bovis, the 

entire group is disqualified for translocation and must be euthanized.

Movement:

The animals may be moved after all have tested negative for TB and brucellosis and a premovement health examination does not find signs of any infectious disease or illness. Health 

officials of the receiving or importing State or Tribe may require a pre-transport holding 

period of their choosing.

Transport:

Interstate transportation of quarantined animals must be in an approved solid enclosed 

conveyance with proper ventilation under official seal affixed by a State veterinarian or a VS 

veterinary medical officer. This seal may only be opened by a VS veterinary medical officer, 

State veterinarian, Tribal representative, or approved accredited veterinarian. The shipment 

must be accompanied by a properly filled out certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) or 

other approved movement document that shows all official animal identification numbers of 

each animal to be moved. The CVI must also include: 

• the number of animals covered by the certificate;

• the purpose for which the animals are to be moved;

• points of origin and destination;

• the consignor and the consignee; and

• a statement by the issuing veterinarian that the animals were not exhibiting clinical 

signs associated with CWD, TB, brucellosis or other contagious disease at the time of 

examination.
 United States Department of Agriculture

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 VS Guidance 8000.1

9

Cleaning and disinfection of the conveyance will be performed at the animals’ point of 

destination under the supervision of a State, Tribal, or APHIS representative.

Point of Destination:

When the animals are offloaded at the point of destination an APHIS or State animal health 

official, Tribal representative, or approved accredited veterinarian will be present to 

document any sick animals, injuries, or deaths.

All animals will be confined under quarantine in an enclosure of adequate size to provide for 

the animals’ welfare, and surrounded by a double 8-foot-high perimeter fence with at least 1 

meter between the fences. The group of animals will be held under this quarantine for up to 

120 days after being assembled to establish a herd. Once the herd is established, the whole 

herd TB test can be completed.

• Brucellosis testing will be repeated at the discretion of the importing State.

• TB testing must be repeated using the DPP serological testing protocol as described in 

VS Guidance Document 6701.2. Parallel skin testing may also be done according to the 

prescribed SCT/CCT protocol. If skin testing is used it must be done not less than 90 

days after an original skin test.

Animals showing non-negative results to any serologic or skin tests must be necropsied and 

tissues for TB and CWD testing submitted to NVSL. The entire group must be kept in 

quarantine until histopathology and culture results are finalized and reported to be negative 

for M. bovis and immunohistochemistry is reported as “not detected” for CWD. If the 

confirmatory testing at NVSL is negative for all euthanized animals, the remaining animals in

the lot may be released.
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 VS Guidance 8000.1

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Attachment 2: INTERSTATE MOVEMENT OF WILD CERVIDS BETWEEN:

(State of origin) AND (Receiving State)

The purpose of this document is to indicate the review and agreement by the State of

origin , the receiving

State , and their respective state agencies having authority for

wild cervids; and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), in

accordance with the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) rule - 9 CFR Part 81.3(b), that the

summary statement and supporting documentation provided by (State of

origin) , from which wild cervids will be obtained for this

interstate movement, are from a source population documented to be low risk to CWD based

on the information provided.

Further, and as applicable, that the wild cervids to be translocated either (check appropriate box):

□ Meet the bovine tuberculosis testing requirements for interstate movement of captive/ wild

cervids in accordance with 9 CFR Parts 77.20 and 77.27, OR

□ The States have requested and received from APHIS a waiver of the bovine tuberculosis

testing requirements for interstate movement of the captive /wild cervids in accordance with 9 

CFR Part 77.38.

□ With the signature of the APHIS official(s) below, it is acknowledged that the waiver for 

bovine tuberculosis testing requirements for captive wild caught cervids is granted in 

accordance with 9 CFR Part 77.38

In addition, each of the cervids captured from this wild population for interstate movement

and release must have two forms of animal identification, one of which is USDA official

animal identification, in accordance with 9 CFR Part 81.3(b).

STATE of ORIGIN/ AGENCY:

SIGNATURE:

NAME/TITLE: State Veterinarian

STATE of ORIGIN/ AGENCY:

SIGNATURE:

NAME/TITLE: Wildlife Veterinarian

RECEIVING STATE/AGENCY:

SIGNATURE:

NAME/ TITLE: State Veterinarian

RECEIVING STATE/AGENCY:

SIGNATURE:

NAME/ TITLE: Wildlife Veterinarian

DATE:

DATE:

DATE:

DATE:
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 8000.1

11

USDA APHIS Veterinary Services Signatures:

Cervid Health Center Director:______________________ Date:______________________

Exporting State

District Assistant Director:_________________________ Date:_______________________

Receiving State

District Assistant Director: ________________________ Date_______________________